[sigboi]

This video is for Evora 400 & GT owners; esp if you still have warranty. Hope this helps fellow owners!

My car started making a rattle/fluttering noise, and it went in to the dealer for oil service and to check it out.

I just got off the phone with Lotus dealership; their tech looked at it, sent videos of noise to corporate. The determination was supercharger has “internal fault” with no additional details and will be replaced under warranty. It’ll take 1 month or more to get a new unit from the UK.

Advisor said he saw early 400’s have s/c fail like this, rare on GT’s.

2021 GT with 6055 miles, S/C started making this noise at about 5900 miles, got car at 5575, did not track it or push car hard.

Re-posting this video for Evora 400 & GT owners; esp if you still have warranty.

I just got off the phone with Lotus dealership; their tech looked at it, sent videos of noise to corporate. The determination was supercharger has “internal fault” with no additional details and will be replaced under warranty. It’ll take 1 month or more to get a new unit from the UK.

Advisor said he saw early 400’s have s/c fail like this, rare on GT’s.

2021 GT with 6055 miles, S/C started making this noise at about 5900 miles, got car at 5575, did not track it or push car hard.

⚠ Update: David Simkin reached out, and says noise is normal, and Park Place jumped the gun, doesn’t have authorization to replace S/C 🤦‍♂️. Thanks PP for the heart attack!

http://imgur.com/a/Ixzx0gc

 

[agentdr8]

The early 400s S/C issue was the snout seal failing IIRC. @lotusquacious had this happen I believe, and it flung oil everywhere.

 

[friss]

Sounds pretty normal for me for all the cars I've been around. The belt sequel at cold is pretty common usually helped with a belt change.

 

[sigboi]

Advisor at dealership on the phone told me it was approved, was already lining me up for a month long wait for parts, then scheduling etc. 🤦‍♂️

It is concerning that the rattle isn’t consistent, intermittently comes and goes, regardless of engine temp. Video was recorded after a drive. On Jag superchargers they have backlash, but it is consistent and goes away after warming up

 

[IDEngineer]

Maybe it's the two screw drives rattling against each other? I definitely don't like it, especially the inconsistency. I'll be checking for it when ours comes out of storage.

 

[2011 chrome orange]

The good news is that it looks like you have it well documented in case there is a future failure. So, I wouldn't worry about it as long as they fix it if needed down the road.

 

[FlatCrank]

Just as stated above it's documented! I can hear it and don't like it either. I'd drive it decently hard and start watching the engine oil on changes. Obviously, if the supercharger goes, it can and will likely ingest nuggets through the engine.
You documenting is a major achievement and sounds like the Dealer is also aligned with your concerns. I'd drive it and give it the beans on a regular basis. Keep watch on those engine oil changes! I might even go so far as sending oil samples into someone like Blackstone Labs.

 

[Catsailr27]

Just as stated above it's documented! I can hear it and don't like it either. I'd drive it decently hard and start watching the engine oil on changes. Obviously, if the supercharger goes, it can and will likely ingest nuggets through the engine.
You documenting is a major achievement and sounds like the Dealer is also aligned with your concerns. I'd drive it and give it the beans on a regular basis. Keep watch on those engine oil changes! I might even go so far as sending oil samples into someone like Blackstone Labs.

Using Blackstone with the documentation is a great idea. CYA!

 

[2011 chrome orange]

I'm pretty sure if Dave Simkin is involved everything will work out fine in the end. He's a stand up guy and great to deal with. If it goes sideways later on, he will take care of it.

 

[Frohst]

Gave me a dread attack cus I'm pretty sure mine makes those noises... And is out of warranty.
I will say my Blackstone at 20K came back very very clean.

Selfishly I hope it is a tadts and not a broked bit.

 

[joshualo]

Also gave me a heart attack as I was reading because mine sounds the same every time I start it cold. Thanks for getting back to us with an update!

Once I get it warmed up, everything sounds smoother so I always thought it was normal. Now I'll keep an eye (or ear) on it...

 

[sigboi]

Also gave me a heart attack as I was reading because mine sounds the same every time I start it cold. Thanks for getting back to us with an update!

Once I get it warmed up, everything sounds smoother so I always thought it was normal. Now I'll keep an eye (or ear) on it...

Dealer says on mine it’s louder than usual which is why they submitted to corporate. Dave from corporate says it’s normal, but I feel better that it’s documented just in case of failure down the road.

So your car doesn’t do it when warmed up? Video is of engine after driving for a while so it’s fully warmed up.

 

[sleepe]

The MP62 on my 2008 S240 Exige makes an unsettling "rattle" too but so did my Elise with the same supercharger so I think this is a normal characteristic of a twin-screw style SC'er.
I would describe the "rattle" on my Exige as more of a rotational impacting sound like two metal objects lightly rubbing together.

 

[joshualo]

Dealer says on mine it’s louder than usual which is why they submitted to corporate. Dave from corporate says it’s normal, but I feel better that it’s documented just in case of failure down the road.

So your car doesn’t do it when warmed up? Video is of engine after driving for a while so it’s fully warmed up.

I agree that's it's a good idea for you to document it.

Yeah I'll try to find some time to make a video later this week. I'll start it cold and record the sound...

 

[sigboi]

I agree that's it's a good idea for you to document it.

Yeah I'll try to find some time to make a video later this week. I'll start it cold and record the sound...

Would you mind recording one after car has been driven as well? Thanks!

 

[joshualo]

Would you mind recording one after car has been driven as well? Thanks!

I will try to do that - bit stormy locally for a bit, so apologies if it takes me a bit of time!

 

[IDEngineer]

Data point: Took the Evora GT of of storage for the first time this season. I never took the chance to fire up its engine over the winter so it has sat utterly undisturbed for 5+ months on the Lotus battery tender.

The SC does indeed rattle a bit on cold startup. But I also checked it after today's run and it was purring like a kitten. There is definitely a mechanical rotational sound from the SC but that's to be expected.

My bottom line is I accept that a bit of cold rattle is normal, and goes away after warmup.

 

[sigboi]

Data point: Took the Evora GT of of storage for the first time this season. I never took the chance to fire up its engine over the winter so it has sat utterly undisturbed for 5+ months on the Lotus battery tender.

The SC does indeed rattle a bit on cold startup. But I also checked it after today's run and it was purring like a kitten. There is definitely a mechanical rotational sound from the SC but that's to be expected.

My bottom line is I accept that a bit of cold rattle is normal, and goes away after warmup.

Thanks for your input, good to know sound goes away on yours after warmup. As I mentioned to Joshualo, my engine rattles hot or cold and it just randomly starts tapping then goes away for a while then back again; video is after car has been driven for a good bit.

 

[joshualo]

Would you mind recording one after car has been driven as well? Thanks!

Alright, here are the videos!
Cold: Cold start
Warmed up (left idle for 15 minutes - sorry forgot to open the back for this one): Warmed up - not driven
Driven for a couple hours and fully warmed up: Driven / fully up to temp

 

[IDEngineer]

I think your cold start supercharger is quieter than mine.